The additional guards will patrol the transit stations while wearing very visible jackets or vests. Their job is to observe and report any emergencies to 911. For disorder or nuisance issues, they’ll contact the ETS Control Centre which will “dispatch necessary support,” the city said.

They will interact with the public and work closely with transit peace officers and Edmonton police.

“Security guards will receive appropriate orientation, training and operational knowledge to effectively patrol their assigned location,” the city said in a Thursday news release.

The increased security is estimated to cost the city $6 million every year. The money must still be approved, but councillors voted Oct. 9 to take the next steps.

“We want to have a system that’s used by everyone and safety is a barrier for many,” Councillor Bev Esslinger said.

She added that pubic transit has been identified as a service that women and girls in Edmonton do not feel safe using.

“We must continue to ensure that we have equal access for everyone – that they feel safe – whether they apply for a job as an operator, whether they want to ride our systems. That’s our commitment: safety.”